THE NEAR EAST.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 November 1922, Page 3

THE NEAR EAST.

«TrSTn»U-*N AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

ALLIES AND HAMID BEY. CONSTANTINOPLE, November 7. The Allied Generals had a threehours interview with Rafet Pasha, this morning. General Harrington pointed out that Rafet Pasha apparently was trying to usurp the authority of the Allied Generals and seemed to forget the existence of the treaty of Mudios which the Mudania convention had n: t superseded. The Allied Generals we e unable to divest themselves of autho-’-ty, and there could only be one control, namely that of the Allies. Constantinope, would eventually, prclr’bl'v within a few weeks, he handed over to the Nationalists hut meanwhile the Allies would not surrender responsibility for the maintenance of order and security.

General Charpy, on behalf of Kr n e, and General Mombelli (Italy) endorsed General Harrington’s declaration. Rafet Pasha, replying, expressed his ignorance of the Notes which the Angora representative had handed to the Allied High Commissioners. He said those notes were diplomatic ones. He was anxious to work in agreement with the Allies, but be was unable to accept any form of Allied control. He promised to ask for instructions from Angora, and to consult the Allied Generals to-morrow. The meeting therefore ended in n deadlock. There is reason, however, to believe that the Kemalists will climb down before a strong united attit u' of the Allies. UNCERTAIN POSITION. CONSTANTINOPLE Nov. 7. The Allied Commissioners are taking steps to effect the release of Kctnal Bey. ex-Minister of the Interior. The Allies recar dhis arrest as political persecution.

It ,is reported a Turkish liberal .jour, nalist, Ali Kcmal. was hanged at Isi)iid, after a crowd had half lynched him.

T’-e Sultan visited General H‘ rim~ton yesterday. He said that as Kh'.‘lif ho was tiie head of the whole Moslem world, and therefore he was unwilling to accept the decision of the National Assembly. Demonstrations in the Asiatic <p'a't»rs of Constantinople took a nasty turn yesterday, when the windows of Christians' houses were smashed and British soldiers were stabbed, necessitating the arrest of two Turkili police. Two British soldiers were also stabbed at Gatata by demonstrators, who wee shouting: “Down with Britain, France and the Allies!” There is a threatening situation at Chariak. Although the Turkish troops are keeping behind the lines., their gendarmerie, who are really troops with different labels, advanced pracrieallv against the British wires, aetualIv pi eventing Hriiish patrols from :>dvniciiig beyond the three mile 1 m't. General Hnringtcn is taking up the matter with Tsfnet Pasha.

A GRAVE SITUATION. BRITISH CABINET’S ACTION. LONDON, November 8, On Tuesday, at midnight, owing to the gravity of the Near Eastern situation. Mr Bon nr Law called a hurried Cabinet mee.ting for this evening, ineluding Lord Derby, who was recalled to London. The opening of tile Lausanne Conlerence has been adjourned to November 27th., owing to the new demands < f the Angora Government, which are tantamount to an attempt to drive the Allies out of Turkey without waiting for the decision of the Lausanne Conference.

MARTTAT- LA AY. ALLIED ATTITUDE. PARTS November 7. The Foreign Office states the Allied Commissioners in Constantinople are authorised to proclaim martial law. if they deem it necessary. BONAR LAW’S YIEAYS. LONDON, November 7. AH Bonar Law. speaking at South London, referring to the reci udescemc of a crisis in the Near East, emphasised that the Allied High Commissioners anil Generals were now absolutely united. which was not previously the

'inn irak alarm. LONDON, November 7. The “Morning Post’s’’ Baghdad correspondent says:—The statement that the Kemalists intend to demand the return of the .Mosul has alarmed the Truk Government. An intensive pro-Kemalist propnganda, is however proceeding here. The Government fears the Honor Law Cabinet in order to placate the demand for a reduction of commitments abroad may agree to the return of Mosul, and even Baghdad, to the Turks on the ground of economy to Britain.

EGYPTIAN FEEDING. CAIRO, November 7. Opinion in the Alazhat University, n famous Moslem religious centre, is greatly incensed at the Kemalists’ presumption in depriving the Khalifate of temporal poy/er. The trend of comment there indicates that France’s claims to he the chief protector of Islam were weakened by the action of its Kemalist proteges, which earnest Moslems fear betokens a rupture of Islamic unity, through the advent of rival claims for the Khalifate. PEACE CONFERENCE. PARIS, November 7. Lord Hardinge (British Minister) has handed Premier Poinenire a request to postpone Lausanne Conference till November 27th.It is understood the French Government regards a postponement of more than for two or three days as extremely dangerous. Speaking in the Chamber M. Poincftire declared the Allied occupation of Constantinople must continue until the Treaty is signed. General Pelle had been instructed fully to co-operate in the maintenance of law and order with the British and Italian commanders.

TURKISH HAPPENINGS. Received this dav at 12.25. p.m.) PARTS, Nov 8. Thci “Petit ParisieiT’s” Constantinople correspondent states Kemalists expelled the French Consul from Brusa. They informed him that Turkey wfls’still at war with France, there I fore the staff of the Consulate must leave, but could return in two days. I A French military despatch bearer ( from Brusa to Constantinople was arrested and imprisoned. On Is met Pasha’s arrival at Constantinople, the Allies will hand him an ultimatum demanding that Nationalists observe the Armistice conditions. Contradictory reports are current ror"Tiling the Sultan. One says he has been carried off by Kemalists. Another. that the Sultan is aboard a British warship. Kemalists attempted, to examine paieels in the Italian Post Office at Galat hut were prevented by Italian troops. Kemalists have seized the customs receipts and notified all European employees that they must leave, i Recalling Marshal poclis statei meat the “Petit Parision’ adds the I Turks can be prevented from passing the Straits without a great mifitaiv force, and points out the Allies can easily reinforce troops by appealing to ii»Mein Allies. '1 here arc: reasons fm thinking Roun.ania particularly wou c send troops to Constantinople o. an unanimous invitation from the -' lllp " allied attitude Received this day at 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 8. It’ is officially stated that the Allies have firn.lv resolved to maintain the position existing in Constantinople at am time the Mudania Armistice was si. -Led. '1 lie High Commissioners are sendin'' a note to Kemalists demanding a.r observance of the convention. GREEK NEWS ATHENS, Nov. 8. U is reported-the Cabinet will resign and he reformed under a new Premier. , . Greece and Jugoslavia have reached an agreement regarding the commercial treaty, and question of a free [■line, at Salonika,- and also arrange for joint action at Lausanne Conference, particularly regarding a Bulgarian outlet to Aegean Sea. ALLEGED TREASON. Received this dav at l-- 2 “ ATHENS, Nov. 8. The official report on the Asia Minor disaster accuses politicians whose names are detailed, and HadjanestiS , f high treason ; firstly, that they recalled Constantine Mespito AM l ®" v.amines hv announcing the result ot Ho plebiscite as ninety-nine per cent favour of Constantino’s return, ■vhi eh figures were grossly exaggerated • secondly, it- is alleged the politicians conduct aided the enemy ndvaucc, and the late Government ’S cured- of having unnecessarily dehvcl advising .Constantine to abdioaU-. The third charge alleges the Minister entrusted the high command (■(-nstantiu.-. hut did not make him responsible for the Army’s reverses, ;ll ,d continually misrepresented these reverses as success. The fourth alle(,at:cin is that the Army was not furnished with adequate provisions and ■ hat operations were ordered without Ihe necessary preparations, auc pu - lie mrnev was squandered. Idle fifth charge relates (to Hadjauesti s withdrawal of troops from Asia Minor and transference to Thrace. Tlu- trial is fixed for the 13th.